The Parabolic System, developed by Welles Wilder who also developed the Relative Strength Index (RSI), is usually referred to as the Parabolic "SAR" (stop-and-reverse).
The Parabolic SAR is a "stop-loss" system used to set trailing price stops. The name of the system gets its name from its parabolic shape, which trails the price movements in the form of a dotted line. When the parabola follows along below the price, the investor should be buying or going long in that particular stock. A parabola above the price suggests selling or going short in the stock.
The particular value in the Parabolic SAR is that it allows investors to catch new trends relatively early. If the new trend fails, the parabola quickly switches from one side of the price to the other, consequently generating the stop and reverse signal.
Mr. Wilder built an acceleration factor into the Parabolic system. To allow the trend time to become established, the movement of the indicator starts off slowly, with the points close together. As acceleration ramps up, the parabola move quicker (with the dots further apart) until it catches up to the price action.
As with most indicators, Parabolic SAR works best in trending markets, and is less consistent during sideways or non-trending times. Wilder himself estimates that stocks tend to trend roughly 30% of the time.
The Parabolic SAR is a good indicator for providing exit and entry points. Of course, these signals need to be confirmed by the price action itself and other, complementary indicators.
The Parabolic SAR indicator for this stock is currently showing a bullish reading. The bullish reading may have been triggered for this stock because the parabola was following along below the price of this stock. The Parabolic SAR is a "stop-loss" system used to set trailing price stops. The name of the system gets its name from its parabolic shape, which trails the price movements in the form of a dotted line. Investors are encouraged to verify that this stock is currently in a bullish trending pattern because like most other technical indicators, Parabolic SAR works best in trending markets, and is less consistent during sideways or non-trending times. The best way to determine a trending stock is by either looking at the Parabolic SAR stock chart or by simply confirming the trend with other technical indicators shown on BullishInvestor.com. The Parabolic SAR is a good indicator for providing exit points, so a change to a bearish signal could mean that the bullish run is over. There is always the possibility of a false signal, so investors are encouraged to read what the other technical indicators are currently saying about this stock and make a decision based on all the indicators.